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PRAM

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopedia of Database Systems

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Synonyms

Post-randomization method

Definition

The Post-RAndomization Method (PRAM) is a probabilistic, perturbative masking method for disclosure protection of categorical microdata. In the masked file, the scores on some categorical attributes for certain records in the original file are changed to a different score according to a prescribed probability mechanism, namely a Markov matrix. The Markov approach makes PRAM very general, because it encompasses noise addition, data suppression and data recoding.

Key Points

The PRAM matrix contains a row for each possible value of each attribute to be protected. This rules out using the method for continuous data. PRAM was invented by Gouweleeuw et al. [1]. The information loss and disclosure risk in data masked with PRAM largely depend on the choice of the Markov matrix and are still (open) research topics [2].

Cross-references

Inference Control in Statistical Databases

Microdata

SDC Score

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Recommended Reading

  1. Gouweleeuw J.M., Kooiman P., Willenborg L.C.R.J., and DeWolf P.-P. 1997. Post randomisation for statistical disclosure control: Theory and implementation, 1997. Statistics Netherlands).(Voorburg: Research Paper No. 9731

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  2. de Wolf P.-P. Risk, utility and PRAM. In J. Domingo-Ferrer and L. Franconi (eds.). Privacy in Statistical Databases LNCS, vol. 4302, 2006, pp. 189–204.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Catalonia

    Josep Domingo-Ferrer

Authors
  1. Josep Domingo-Ferrer
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology, 266 Ferst Drive, 30332-0765, Atlanta, GA, USA

    LING LIU (Professor) (Professor)

  2. Database Research Group David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    M. TAMER ÖZSU (Professor and Director, University Research Chair) (Professor and Director, University Research Chair)

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© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Domingo-Ferrer, J. (2009). PRAM. In: LIU, L., ÖZSU, M.T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Database Systems. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-39940-9_1499

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